Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Bob Woodward
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Bob Woodward made an impact.
Bob Woodward is a renowned American investigative journalist, famous for his work at The Washington Post since 1971. Though not currently employed by the Post, he holds the title of associate editor. He is best known for his investigative reporting, particularly on the Watergate scandal alongside Carl Bernstein, which significantly contributed to Richard Nixon's resignation. Woodward has authored or co-authored numerous best-selling books, often focusing on American presidents and political events, consistently shaping public understanding of government and power.
June 17, 1972: Watergate Burglary
On June 17, 1972, Woodward and Carl Bernstein were assigned to report on the burglary of the Democratic National Committee headquarters at the Watergate Hotel. This assignment would become a pivotal moment in Woodward's career.
November 1973: The Final Days Publication
In November 1973, Woodward and Bernstein began working on their second book on Watergate, entitled The Final Days.
1973: Pulitzer Prize for Public Service
In 1973, Woodward and Bernstein were the lead reporters on Watergate, for which The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service. Woodward made significant contributions to this award.
1976: Portrayed in All the President's Men
In 1976, Bob Woodward was portrayed by Robert Redford in "All the President's Men", a film about the Watergate scandal.
1976: The Final Days Publication
In 1976, Woodward and Bernstein published their second book on Watergate, entitled The Final Days, which covered the period from November 1973 until President Nixon resigned in August 1974.
1976: All the President's Men Film Release
In 1976, the film "All the President's Men" was released, starring Robert Redford as Woodward and Dustin Hoffman as Bernstein. The movie's release transformed the reporters into celebrities and sparked a wave of interest in investigative journalism.
September 1980: "Jimmy's World" Story Published
In September 1980, The Washington Post published Janet Cooke's "Jimmy's World" story, a profile of an eight-year-old heroin addict. Woodward, as assistant managing editor, defended the story's veracity.
1986: Co-wrote Under Siege
In 1986, Bob Woodward co-wrote the NBC made-for-TV film "Under Siege", which is about a series of terrorist attacks in the United States.
September 6, 1996: Richard Harwood defends Woodward
On September 6, 1996, Richard Harwood of The Post defended Woodward's reporting methods, emphasizing his dedication to verifying facts and gathering evidence.
1996: Report on Chinese Campaign Finance Controversy
In 1996, Woodward and Brian Duffy published a story detailing a United States Department of Justice investigation into the 1996 United States campaign finance controversy, alleging Chinese agents sought to direct contributions to the Democratic National Committee.
2001: Robert C. Vance Distinguished Lecture
In 2001, Woodward gave the Robert C. Vance Distinguished Lecture at Central Connecticut State University, showcasing his continued engagement with academic institutions.
2001: Coverage of September 11 Attacks
In 2001, Woodward was the main reporter for The Washington Post's coverage of the September 11 attacks, contributing significantly to their reporting.
January 2002: Articles on Camp David Events Post-9/11
In January 2002, Woodward and Dan Balz published a series of articles describing the events at Camp David in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
2002: Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
In 2002, The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting for its coverage of the September 11 attacks, to which Woodward made significant contributions as the main reporter.
June 2003: Learned about Valerie Plame's CIA Employment
In June 2003, Woodward learned from a senior administration official that Joe Wilson's wife, Valerie Plame, worked for the CIA. He appears to have been the first reporter to learn about her employment from a government source.
2004: Plan of Attack Publication
In 2004, Woodward published "Plan of Attack", a detailed account of the Bush presidency, including the response to the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
May 2005: Deep Throat Identity Revealed
In May 2005, W. Mark Felt was revealed as Deep Throat. Woodward confirmed the claim and subsequently published a book, titled The Secret Man, that detailed his relationship with Felt.
November 14, 2005: Woodward Gives Deposition
On November 14, 2005, Woodward gave a two-hour deposition to Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald regarding the Valerie Plame affair, revealing he had learned about Plame's CIA employment in June 2003.
November 16, 2005: Deposition Reported in The Washington Post
On November 16, 2005, The Washington Post reported on Woodward's deposition to Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald, marking the first time Woodward publicly revealed his special knowledge about the Valerie Plame case.
2006: State of Denial Publication
In 2006, Woodward published "State of Denial", a detailed account of the Bush presidency, including the response to the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2008: Woodward's Speaking Engagements
In 2008, Bob Woodward was giving speeches to industry lobbying groups, earning between $15,000 to $60,000 per engagement which he donated to his personal foundation. This raised questions about Washington Post's policy on speaking engagements.
2008: The War Within Publication
In 2008, Woodward published "The War Within: A Secret White House History (2006–2008)", a detailed account of the Bush presidency, including the response to the September 11 attacks and the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
2012: Obama Administration Statements on Sequester
In 2012, the Obama Administration made statements regarding the sequester, which Woodward later criticized in his February 22, 2013 column.
February 22, 2013: Column Criticizing Obama Administration
On February 22, 2013, The Washington Post published a column by Woodward criticizing the Obama administration's statements about the origin of the budget sequester.
2018: Fear: Trump in the White House Publication
In 2018, Following the publication of "Fear: Trump in the White House", Woodward spoke to a large audience at Virginia Commonwealth University, reflecting his continued influence and engagement with contemporary political issues.
2018: Participation in Online Class
In 2018, Woodward announced his participation in an online class on investigative journalism, sharing his expertise and experience with aspiring journalists.
May 4, 2019: Speech at Kent State University
On May 4, 2019, Woodward's speech at Kent State University revealed previously unreleased audiotape of Richard Nixon seemingly praising the 1970 shooting of students, creating a significant and controversial moment.
